 |
Marin hires consultant for independent review of SMART bike path route
Author: The Odd Duck
Date: 01-06-2016 - 20:17
[www.marinij.com]
Marin hires consultant for independent review of SMART bike path route
By Nels Johnson, Marin Independent Journal
POSTED: 01/06/16,
An Oregon consultant will study the potential for building a bike and pedestrian pathway between Second Street and Rice Drive in San Rafael, a key transit connection sought by bicyclists.
Alta Planning & Design of Portland will determine whether a pathway can be built within SMART or other public right of way and provide three alignment alternatives.
The Board of Supervisors approved the $55,000 contract Tuesday, noting the Transportation of Authority of Marin will pick up the tab.
The new study was hailed by Patrick Seidler, CEO of pioneer mountain bike part supplier WTB of Mill Valley, as well as head of the nonprofit Transportation Alternatives for Marin.
“This is a positive for everybody,” he said, noting conflicting opinion about whether a bike pathway promised as part of the SMART tax measure can squeeze through the San Rafael route.
The problem, he added, is a 300-foot “pinch point” that will make for a tight fit — although a Transportation Alternatives consulting study indicates it can be done.
“It shows you could fit a 12-foot pathway in,” Seidler said of the private study. “It’s extremely prudent to do a new study,” he said. “We’re grateful they are doing this.”
“It’s good news,” agreed Jim Elias, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. “It’s the next step toward enabling the buildout of this portion of the pathway,” he added. “It’s what we have fought for.” He predicted the new study will indicate that the pathway can fit in.
Cyclists became alarmed a year ago when SMART submitted plans for environmental review that did not include the pathway. A potential lawsuit was averted when SMART officials agreed to provide the right of way for a pathway — if studies indicated a path would be safe.
“The county of Marin was asked by the Transportation Authority of Marin to lead an independent peer review to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a new multiuse path between Second Street and Rice Drive,” reported Craig Tackabery, chief assistant director of public works, in a memo to the county Board of Supervisors this week. “A key issue is whether or not the proposed pathway can be constructed within existing SMART, city of San Rafael and or Caltrans right of way.”
Cyclists have been concerned that the SMART train program will move ahead without a continuous pathway alongside as promised to voters. Bicycle enthusiasts have been trying to complete the North-South Greenway, a 25-mile path from Novato to the Golden Gate Bridge, for more than a decade.
Tax Measure Q approved by voters in 2008 promised such a path along the SMART rail corridor from Cloverdale to Larkspur, but the path’s fate through San Rafael has been uncertain amid concerns including public safety.
The consultant will collect reviews done by others including Transportation Alternatives for Marin and provide an overview of potential environmental issues and permit requirements for three alternative routes for a path linking Second Street and Rice Drive.
Tackabery added the report should be ready by spring.
************************************************************************************************
Ronrico Padroni
Measure Q promised a bikeway from Cloverdale to Larkspur, but those "pinche points" are a big problem.
I was driving up 101 north to Sonoma county last week and happened to glance over at the newly "refurbished" SMART train tracks north of Novato. I noticed that the tracks at that point were elevated on a levee or berm across the wetlands. That berm was barely wide enough for the train tracks, and there is no possible way to build a bicycle/pedestrian path along the tracks.
I'm glad that I did not vote for SMART or the measure Q package. I think that the voters of Sonoma county who were responsible for approving measure Q were hoodwinked, they were lied to, there is no way they could have ever built a bike path from Cloverdale to even downtown San Rafael, let alone Larkspur.
The bicycle lobby got burned, all one has to do is read the MUTCD to find out that the pipe dreamed bike path is not doable, and I don't care because I didn't vote for it, I knew better than to fall for this voter/tax fraud.
Marin hires consultant for independent review of SMART bike path route
By Nels Johnson, Marin Independent Journal
POSTED: 01/06/16,
An Oregon consultant will study the potential for building a bike and pedestrian pathway between Second Street and Rice Drive in San Rafael, a key transit connection sought by bicyclists.
Alta Planning & Design of Portland will determine whether a pathway can be built within SMART or other public right of way and provide three alignment alternatives.
The Board of Supervisors approved the $55,000 contract Tuesday, noting the Transportation of Authority of Marin will pick up the tab.
The new study was hailed by Patrick Seidler, CEO of pioneer mountain bike part supplier WTB of Mill Valley, as well as head of the nonprofit Transportation Alternatives for Marin.
“This is a positive for everybody,” he said, noting conflicting opinion about whether a bike pathway promised as part of the SMART tax measure can squeeze through the San Rafael route.
The problem, he added, is a 300-foot “pinch point” that will make for a tight fit — although a Transportation Alternatives consulting study indicates it can be done.
“It shows you could fit a 12-foot pathway in,” Seidler said of the private study. “It’s extremely prudent to do a new study,” he said. “We’re grateful they are doing this.”
“It’s good news,” agreed Jim Elias, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. “It’s the next step toward enabling the buildout of this portion of the pathway,” he added. “It’s what we have fought for.” He predicted the new study will indicate that the pathway can fit in.
Cyclists became alarmed a year ago when SMART submitted plans for environmental review that did not include the pathway. A potential lawsuit was averted when SMART officials agreed to provide the right of way for a pathway — if studies indicated a path would be safe.
“The county of Marin was asked by the Transportation Authority of Marin to lead an independent peer review to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a new multiuse path between Second Street and Rice Drive,” reported Craig Tackabery, chief assistant director of public works, in a memo to the county Board of Supervisors this week. “A key issue is whether or not the proposed pathway can be constructed within existing SMART, city of San Rafael and or Caltrans right of way.”
Cyclists have been concerned that the SMART train program will move ahead without a continuous pathway alongside as promised to voters. Bicycle enthusiasts have been trying to complete the North-South Greenway, a 25-mile path from Novato to the Golden Gate Bridge, for more than a decade.
Tax Measure Q approved by voters in 2008 promised such a path along the SMART rail corridor from Cloverdale to Larkspur, but the path’s fate through San Rafael has been uncertain amid concerns including public safety.
The consultant will collect reviews done by others including Transportation Alternatives for Marin and provide an overview of potential environmental issues and permit requirements for three alternative routes for a path linking Second Street and Rice Drive.
Tackabery added the report should be ready by spring.
************************************************************************************************
Ronrico Padroni
Measure Q promised a bikeway from Cloverdale to Larkspur, but those "pinche points" are a big problem.
I was driving up 101 north to Sonoma county last week and happened to glance over at the newly "refurbished" SMART train tracks north of Novato. I noticed that the tracks at that point were elevated on a levee or berm across the wetlands. That berm was barely wide enough for the train tracks, and there is no possible way to build a bicycle/pedestrian path along the tracks.
I'm glad that I did not vote for SMART or the measure Q package. I think that the voters of Sonoma county who were responsible for approving measure Q were hoodwinked, they were lied to, there is no way they could have ever built a bike path from Cloverdale to even downtown San Rafael, let alone Larkspur.
The bicycle lobby got burned, all one has to do is read the MUTCD to find out that the pipe dreamed bike path is not doable, and I don't care because I didn't vote for it, I knew better than to fall for this voter/tax fraud.
Marin hires consultant for independent review of SMART bike path route